Photographic system and apparatus



Sept. 22, 1942. STUART 2,296,655

PHOTOGRAPHIQ SYSTEM AND APPARATUS Filed April 25, 1941 I5 Sheets-Sheet 2 EIEJUEIEIL'JIJEIUDDD[III] H I I I l l N\ ENTOR.

Zggifi 4 BY WTTQQNEYJ Sept. 22, 1942. R. STUART 2,296,655

' PHOTOGRAPHIC SYSTEM AND APPARATUS Filed April 25, 1941 5 Sheets-Sheet 3 mumm -66 1- amfz' J59 9 9 =55 puma 00006001254166 INVENTOR.

Patented Sept. 22, 1942 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE rno'roGaArnrc srs'rmu AND APPARATUS Robert Stuart, Forest min, Lon: Island, N. Y.

Application April 25, 1941, Serial No. 390,279

13 Claims.

This invention relates to photographic systems and the apparatus used therewith and it has for an object to provide means for photographing p rtions of an exposed sheet progressively; another object of the invention is to provide a photo-sensitive sheet'in the field of a camera with a movable mask whereby only a portion of the sheet can be exposed at one time; another object or the invention is to provide a photo-sensitive sheet in the field 01 a camera with a mask tor covering the sheet, having a window therein exposing a portion of the sheet and means ior moving the object to be photographed to correspond with the .position of the window in the mask; another object or the invention is to provide a system for making multi-photographs on a sheet by the use of a mask for exposing a portion oi. the sheet with means for progressively moving the mask and correspondingly moving the object to be photographed until the sheet has been used up, and

another object o! the invention is to provide a system for making mum-photographs on a sheet with a movable mask having a window covering the sheet and means for moving the object to be photographed in synchronism with the mask to correspond with the position of the window. A more particular object 01' the invention is to photograph the pages of a book progressively in multi-photographs on a film or sheet in the camera; other objects of the invention will be more particularly understood from the iollowing specification and the accompanying drawings, in which:

Fig. 1 is a diagram showing the arrangement of the camera and the movable table supporting the object to be photographed;

Fig. 2 is a plan view of one form or table supporting the object to be photographed;

Fig. 3 is an elevation of the photographic film or sheet and the mask that is used to protect the sheet;

Fig. 4 is a diagram of the optical arrangement and the method of feeding the film and the mask;

Fig. 5 is a detail of the stepping mechanism used to move the mask ai'ter each exposure;

' Fig. 6 is a foot-operated lever for operating the stepping mechanism that moves the table supporting the object and operates in synchronism therewith the movement or the mask and the shutter of the camera;

Fig. 7 is a plan view of a movable table for the object which may be positioned by manual operation;

Fig. 8 is a diagram of an electrically operated system for moving the mask and for operating the camera shutter in synchronism;

Fig.9isaplanviewotonetypeoimaskfor photographing the subject in squares on the shee Fig. 10 is another type of mask for photographing the subject in vertical bands on the sheet, and

Fig. 11 is a diagram showing a form of mask for photographing one-halt oi! the sheet at a time in horizontal spaced rows with an electric controlling apparatus tor the mask and the camera shutter.

The present invention relates to a system for making a'plurality of different objects on a film or sheet exposed in the optical system of a camera and protected by a mask having an aperture or window which exposes only the portion on! the film opposite the window. The film remains stationary in the camera while, after each exposure, the mask is moved to a new position to take the next picture on a fresh-portion or the film. Cooperating with the movement of the mask the object is also moved so that it occupies a position in the optical field oi the camera, corresponding to the portion of the film that is exposed through the mask. The invention is intended for micro-filming objects on a photographic sheet which may be reproduced and enlarged but it is not necessarily confined to micro-films.

The operation of the mechanism depends upon the shape of the window in the mask. For instance, if the photographs are to be made in squares and in rows, one following the other, then the mask is provided with a square window in line with the first row and a stepping mechanism moves it one space for each exposure, and after the first row is completed a second window is brought into register .with the second row of exposures and is correspondingly stepped across the film until this row of exposures is completed and the Iollowing rows are exposed one at a time in the same manner.

The object to be photographed may be located on a table laid out in squares to correspond with the position of the windows ior each exposure of the camera. The object is located on the first square tor the first exposure, then it is moved to the second square for the next exposure in the same row and so on until the row is completed, after which the object is located on the first square of the second row and on each square progressively thereafter for each exposure 01' the camera and this is continued throughout the following rows until the squares are used up. The object to be photographed may be located by moving the table upon which it is supported according to an index member indicating the location of the table for each exposure. The system may further be operated automatically by a foot pedal which operates the mask, the camera shutter and the table carrying the object in synchronism.

It is apparent that if all the objects to be photographed could be located in proper order on the table, at the same time, a single exposure would photograph all these objects properly arranged on the film; however, if the object to be photographed cannot thus be arranged for a single exposure, as for instance, in photographing the pages of a book which remain bound in the book so that only one page or folio is in position to be photographed at a time, then the book is located on each square of the table as described and after each exposure a new page of the book is turned up so as to place the pages consecutively on the photographic sheet.

If the object to be photographed is placed in vertical rows on the table so that a complete row may be photographed in each exposure of the camera, the mask is then provided with vertical windows corresponding to the width of a vertical row on the table so that for each operation of the system a new row is brought into the photographic position on the table and the aperture of the mask is correspondingly adjusted to enable this row to be photographed.

If the objects to be photographed are placed in alternate rows on the table so that one-half of the table is covered with objects at one time, then the mask is provided with alternate slots which correspond with the alternate rows on the table and after a single exposure in this position, the mask is then moved one space so as to cover the portion of the film already exposed and to bring a portion corresponding to the other rows on the table into the photographic field. The objects now placed on the other rows can be photographed.

The electrical control of the mask and the camera shutter insures that the mask must complete its movement before the shutter can be operated. For large reductions the camera is usually placed some distance from the exposure table and is rigidly mounted to avoid vibration and under these conditions the electric control is sometimes preferred.

In the drawings, H is a camera of th usual film type having a lens l2 projecting upon the exposure table l3 where the object or book it is located. The camera is provided with a shutter it, which through a belt H and ratchet wheel l8, operated by rod l9, crank 20 and vertical rod 2| is operated to make the exposure for each step of the mechanism. The mask on the inside of the camera through shaft 67, ratchet wheel 22, rod 23, crank 24 and pin 69, is operated one step by each vertical movement of the shaft 2!.

The exposure table comprises the parallel rods 30 and 3! connected by the fram member 32 which supports the roller 26 on rod 30 and the roller 21 on rod 3|. Between the rollers 26 and 27 the flexible cover i3 is moved being held taut by the weighted rollers 28 and 29 and being supported in the center by the under frame 25.

The table l3 may be laid out in squares as indicated in Fig. 2.

It is apparent that the book i4 may be menually moved from square to square along the top row a then it may be moved in a similar manner on the second row 11 and then similarly in aaeaeos h. The vertical rows may also be indicated b: the numerals 1 to 12. The frame 32 is provide: with an index member 63! which registers with the fixed index bar M, having graduations thereon, spaced according to the horizontal rows of squares so that the entire frame may be slid forward on the rods 8d and 3! to move the object from one row to the next row as indicated by the member 413. The exposure table may also be moved to bring the different vertical rows into the photographic position by rotating the rollers 38 and 37. This is secured by a shaft 35. mounted in the brackets 33 and 3t and having a worm wheel or a spiral gear 36 engaging a corresponding spiral on the shaft of roller 26 and a corresponding spiral gear 21? engaging gear 87a on shaft 3i of roller 27. The shaft 35 is provided with a ratchet wheel 39 whereby this shaft is moved one step for each operation. The shaft 35 is also manually operated by the wheel 38 and the frame 32 may be moved by the roller GE and hand wheel (ll, retrieving the band 42 to bring the frame to the desired position.

In Fig. 3 the film is indicated at W as it is located in the optical field of the camera and is shown laid out in squares with index marks corresponding to the squares of the exposure table in Fig. 3. These marks do not appear on the film, the squares are merely shown for convenience in comparing the location of the object on the exposure table with the corresponding location on the film. The film moves between the reels 59 and 53, Fig. 4, and is held taut between the roller 49 and the spacer 58 at one side and the roller 52 and the spacer 55 at the opposite side. The film is also supported on a level plane by the back plate 4?. The mask as is mounted on rollers 62 and 64 and is held taut between roller 59 and spacer 48 at one side and roller 53 and spacer 5! at the opposite side and the front of the mask is maintained level by the glass or transparent plate 65. The mask is provided with sprocket holes 56 which are held in engagement -with the sprocket roller 6| by the roller 60. Shaft 61 is provided with a spiral gear 66, engaging a corresponding gear 56a on roller 8! which rotates this roller and moves the mask in accordance with the movement of shaft Bl. Shaft 61 is provided with a. ratchet wheel 22 which, through the detent 68, is moved forward one step by each movement of rod 23 and rod 2!. Ratchet wheel i8, which operates the shutter i8, is engaged by the detent ll, mounted on arm 12 and operated in one direction by the rod l9 and shaft 2|. Spring 13 restores the arm 12 after rod 2| is restored and thereby operates the shutter to make the exposure. Lever is, pivoted at H is provided with a foot pedal l8 and is retrieved by spring 19. The outer end of this lever connects to rod 2i to operate the mask and the shutter. Rod 15 also connects to the end of lever 18 and through arm 14 operates the ratchet wheel 39 which rotates the shaft 3i and thereby moves the exposure table.

the following rows, indicated by c, d, e, f, g and In operation the object ll may be placed on square al and the window 57, opposite the top row on the mask, is located to register with the square al and in this position an exposure is made. The pedal 18 is now depressed, which moves the mask 55 to locate the window 51 opposite the second vertical row and, at the same time, shaft 3! is rotated to move the object into the second vertical row and after these movements are completed the shutter is again operated to make the exposure and complete the cycle oiop'eration. Each movement of the pedal thus. moves the mask to locate the window 81 progressively opposite each square in the top row, and, at the same time moves the exposure table to correspondingly move the object with the position of the window and after each move-' ment the shutter is operated and the photograph registered.

As soon as the -top row is completed the window 58 in the mask, opposite the second row, registers with column I and each movement of the pedal progressively locates window 58, opposite each square of the film. When the first row is completed, the frame 32 may be slid on the rods 88 and 3| until the index finger 43 registers with the following mark on 84. This brings the top row or the exposure table into correspondence with the second row on thefilm and the object may be located at the beginning hi this row and moved into the photographing position by each operation of the pedal. Succeeding rows on the exposure table may be handled by moving the table in accordance with the index 43- 88. It should also be noted that as the table includes the entire area represented by the film, that it may be located in one position and the object moved from row to row horizontally and vertically if desired.

The illustrations show the working principles of the invention but are largely diagrammatic in form and do not necessarily show the actual apparatus that is used in carrying out the invention and which is intended to use commercial apparatus as far as this is available.

This system adapted for electric control of the camera is illustrated in Fig. 8. The exposure table Fig. '7 may be manually positioned to locate the object with reference to the portion of the film that is exposed. To facilitate this operation an indexing member 8I is mounted on the bar 82a of the frame to indicate the vertical row that is being used and the indicator 83, with the fixed index 44, indicates the horizontal row that is being used.

The mask 55 is operated by magnet 88, through the armature 88, pivoted at 81 and having a latch 85 which engages the sprocket apertures 58 of the mask. The spring 88, when magnet 88 is deenergized, moves the latch 85 back to the engaging position and when magnet 88 is energized the latch 85 moves the mask forward for the predetermined distance. The shutter I6,

which may be of the focal plane type, is controlled by the armature 8|, which is operated by magnet 88, so that each time magnet 88 is deenergized an exposure is made through the lens I2.

A stick relay 81 is used to control the magnets 88 and 88. This magnet has a pick-up circuit which starts at battery 82, through conductors 83 and 88 to push button 85, conductor 98, to magnet 81 and by conductor 88 to battery 82. When the push button 85 is operated, relay 81 is energized and a holding circuit is established through contact 88 in the energized position, conductor I88, contact IN on the end of armature 86, and conductor I82 and 83 to battery 82. This maintains relay 81 in the energized position, until the armature 88 is moved into the energized position, that is, to the position which completes the movement of the mask 55, and at this point the circuit between I88 and IN is interrupted, thereby deenergizing the stick relay 81.

When relay 81 is energized a circuit is established from battery 82, through 88, contact I88, conductor I83 to magnet 88 and return by conductor I84 and 88 to battery. This energizes the magnet 88 and causes the movement of the mask. When this movement is completed re-' lay 81 is deenergized and a circuit is established irom the back contact I85 to conductor I88, magnet 88 and return to battery on conductor 88. The energizing of magnet 88 operates the shutter I8 to make an exposure alter the movement of the mask is completed. Magnet 88 remains energized until the stick relay 81 is again energized, which deenergizes 88 and resets the shutter for another operation. The push button 85 is conveniently located tothe exposure table so that the. operator can re-locate the subject after each exposure. i

The mask in Fig. 9 is provided with a row of sprocket apertures 88 which are engaged by the latch 88 on the armature '88 to move the mask forward for each exposure. The mask is provided with a series or windows". 58, spaced as indicated at 58a in horizontal rows and spaced apart a distance corresponding to the portion or the film that is exposed atone time in the camera. The mask in Fig. 18 may be operated by the apparatus shown in Fig. 8. In this case the mask is provided with vertical slots indicated at 83, leaving the space 82 to cover the film while the slot is progressively moved to a new position of the film for each exposure. In this case, the subjects on the exposure table are photographed in vertical rows. The mask in Fig. 10 also indicates at 84, in dotted outline, a use in which slots and spaces are alternately located and are of the same size, so that an exposure with this arrangement of slots would photograph each alternate vertical row on the exposure table, that is one half of the table at a time and one movement of the mask positions the apparatus for photographing the other vertical rows on the exposure table.

The apparatus in Fig. 11 automatically changes the mask by the movement of the exposure table. In this arrangement the film 85 on reels 58, 53. moves behind the mask I25 which is provided with horizontal slots I26 and moves vertically in the frame I21 to the extent of one of the slots. A motion plate I23 provided with inclined slots I22 engage pins I2l, located in the legs I28 of the mask I25, so that as the motion plate is moved to the right the mask I25 is low- .ered and as it is moved to the left this mask is raised. the extent of the movement by the motion plate being arranged to change the slots from the exposedto the unexposed portion of the film. A magnet II8, by armature I38, moves the motion plate to the left and magnet II1, by armature I28, moves the motion plate to the right, magnets Ill and H8 are selectively operated by the movement of the exposure table.

The stick relay 81, operated by the push button 85, has a holding circuit on conductor I88 which engages the insulated contact H8 attached to the motion plate I23 and so arranged that contact H8 establishes a circuit with conductor I88 on the first movement of the motion plate and maintains this circuit until the final motion when it is interrupted, as indicated by the dotted outline. This arrangement operates by the movement of the motion plate in both directions and maintains the stick relay energized until the motion plate completes its movement. The circuit from II8 returns to battery on condoctor 83.

Magnet ii i is controlled by conductor I i5, connecting to the contacts lit on the fixed index plate M, contacts iiibeing alternately spaced with contacts H3 which connect by conductor ii 8 with magnet H8. The return circuit of ma nets Ill and H8 is completed through conductor m and conductor 98 to battery 92. When the stick relay 9? is energized a circuit is closed from battery 92, through contact 1185, conductor iii, insulated contact M2 on the frame 32, which connects with the contacts H3 and H6 as the frame is moved to register with these contacts.

When push button 95 is operated it is momentarily held closed to maintain stick relay 9'! energized until the circuit is established between Mill and i it. At the same time, a circuit is established through contact M2 to one of the contact members on If the contact is established with N3, magnet ill will be energized and the motion plate will be moved to lower the mask i25. When the frame 32 is moved to the next contact H4, magnet M8 is energized to move the motion plate to the left and thereby raise the mask I25 to its new position. The next movement of frame 32 engages another contact H3 and energizes magnet ill to move the motion plate to the right and lower the mask I25. In this application the subject is photographed in horizontal rows, one-half of the exposure table being photographed each operation.

Having thus described my invention, I claim:

1. A system for making multi-photographs on sensitized sheets comprising a camera with an optical system for exposing the entire sheet, a mask covering said sheet and having a window therein for exposing only the position of the sheet opposite the window, electrically operated means for moving the mask to change the position of the window after each exposure, a movable support for the object to be photographed for locating the object to correspond with the location of the window, said movable support controlling the circuit of said electrically operated means. 2. A system for making multi-photographs on a sensitized sheet comprising a camera with an optical system for exposing the entire sheet, a mask selecting a portion of said sheet for exposure, means for moving said mask relative to the sheet to change the exposed portion of the sheet a movable support for the objects to be photographed means for changing the position of said support to correspond with the exposed portion of the sheet, and a. lever for operating said camera and movable support.

3. A system for making multi-photographs on a sensitized sheet comprising a camera with an optical system for exposing the entire sheet, a mask covering said sheet and means for moving said mask relative to said sheet, said mask having a window to make a first row of exposures on said sheet as the mask is moved, and a second window to make a second row of exposures, spaced from the first row, by the continued movement of said mask and a movable table for the object to be photographed positioned to locate the objects in successive positions to correspond with the location of the window of the mask as the mask moves to each photographing position.

4. A system for making multi-photographs on a sensitized sheet comprising a camera with an optical system for-exposing the entire sheet, a mask covering said sheet and having a window exposing a portion of the sheet, means for moving said mask relative to said sheet progressively, a moving support for the object to be photographed and cooperative means for moving the object with the mask to correspond with the location of the window in the mask.

5. A system for making mum-photographs on a sensitized sheet comprising a camera with an optical system for exposing the entire sheet, a mask covering said sheet and having a Window exposing a portion of the sheet, means for moving said mask relative to said sheet progressively, a moving support for the object to be photographed, and a lever for operating said mask and said support cooperatively so that the object corresponds with the position of the exposed portion of the sheet.

6. A system for making muJti-photographs on a sensitized sheet comprising a camera with an optical system for exposing the entire sheet, a mask covering said sheet and having a Square window exposing a square portion of the sheet, means for moving said mask progressively relative to said sheet to make a row of exposures in squares, a table laid out in squares corresponding to the exposed squares of the sheet, and an object to be photographed located on said squares on the table to be photographed progressively as the mask is moved.

7. A system for making multi-photographs on a sheet, comprising a camera with an optical system for exposing the sheet, a mask covering said sheet with a window therein for exposing only a portion of said sheet, a magnet for moving said mask to make a new exposure; a push button controlling said magnet, a movable support for the object to be photographed and means controlling said magnet by said movable support only after the push button is operated.

8. A system for making multi-photographs on a sheet, comprising a camera with an optical system for exposing the sheet, a mask covering said sheet with a window therein for exposing only a portion of said sheet, a magnet for moving said mask to make a new exposure, a movable support for the object to be photographed having means controlling said magnet, a stick relay controlling said magnet and a circuit controller controlling said stick relay, said stick relay maintaining the circuit of said magnet until the movement of the mask is completed.

9. A system for making multi-photographs on a sheet, comprising a camera with an optical system for exposing the sheet, a mask covering said sheet with a window therein for exposing only a portion of said sheet, a, magnet for moving said mask to make a new exposure, a movable support for the object to be photographed having means controlling said magnet, a stick relay controlling said magnet and the shutter of the camera and a circuit controller controlling said stick relay, said stick relay maintaining the circuit of said magnet until the movement of the mask is completed and then operating the shutter.

10. A system for making multi-photographs on a sheet, comprising a camera with an optical system for exposing the sheet, a mask for said sheet comprising a series of spaced slots, the distance between a pair of adjacent slots being substantially equal to the width of a slot, a motion plate for moving said mask relative to said sheet a distance equal to the Width of a slot a movable support for theobject to be photographed having means for moving said motion plate in oppo-.

site directions to change the exposure through said mask.

11. A system for making multi-photographs on a sheet, comprising a camera with an optical system for exposing the sheet, a mask for said sheet comprising a series of spaced slots, the distance between a pair of adjacent slots being substantially equal to the width of a slot, a motion plate for moving said mask relative to said sheet a distance equal to the width of a slot, a pair of magnets for moving said motion plate in opposite directions a movable table for the object to be photographed, and means controlled by the position of the table for selectively energizing each of said magnets to move said motion plate in opposite directions to change the exposure through said mask.

12. A system for making multi-photographs on a sheet, comprising a camera with an optical system for exposing the sheet, a mask for said sheet comprising a series of spaced slots, the distance between a pair of adjacent slots being substantially equal to the width or a slot, a motion plate for moving said mask relative to said sheet a distance equal to the width of a slot, a pair of magnets for moving said motion plate in opposite directions, a stick relay controlling said magnets to complete the stroke of the motion plate, a circuit controller controlling said stick relay, a table for the object to be photographed and means controlled by the movement of said table for alternately energizing said magnets to move the motion plate in opposite directions.

13. A system for, making multi-photographs on a sheet, comprising a camera with an optical system for exposing the sheet, a mask for said sheet, having a slot extending across the sheet, means for moving said mask progressively by a stepping motion across the sheet to progressively expose the sheet in bands, each step corresponding with the width of said slot and a movable table for theobjects to be photographed positioned to locate the objects to correspond with the exposed slots in the mask.

ROBERT STUART. 

